Northern Ireland health minister visits community optometry practice

The Minister of Health for Northern Ireland saw how community optometry is treating patients close to home during a visit to Brogans Eyes & Ears in Lisburn.

During the visit, which was hosted by Optometry Northern Ireland, Mike Nesbitt met practice staff and saw how advanced diagnostic technology is being used in practice.

He also heard how optometry practices can help to reduce pressure on overstretched hospital services.

Brian McKeown, chair of Optometry Northern Ireland, said: “We were delighted to show the health minister what community optometry does every day to help more patients receive treatment closer to home.

“In practices right across Northern Ireland, our highly trained members are helping people access specialist eye care quickly, in their own communities, while reducing unnecessary pressure in other parts of the health service.”

Over 47,000 people in Northern Ireland are currently on hospital ophthalmology outpatient waiting lists, and demand for eye care is continuing to grow, Optometry Northern Ireland said.

The Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service (PEARS), which allows patients who have developed a sudden eye problem within the previous 14 days to be seen in community optometry, is helping to ease this burden.

Conditions seen under PEARS include red eye, pain and discomfort, sudden reduction in vision, and increased flashes and floaters.

The service facilitates around 50,000 acute eye care appointments annually, with up to 80% of patients managed entirely within community optometry practice.

Richard McNeight, optometrist at Brogans Eyes & Ears, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the minister to our practice and demonstrate the range of care community optometrists now provide.

“Patients increasingly expect more treatment to be delivered closer to home, and community optometry is well placed to support that ambition.”

McKeown added: “With the right investment, we can do even more to prevent sight loss, improve patient outcomes, and free up valuable hospital capacity.”

Lead image: Health minister, Mike Nesbitt MLA, with Optometry Northern Ireland chair, Brian McKeown, and colleagues during a visit to Brogan’s Eyes and Ears practice in Lisburn.

l-r: Colm Rooney, Richard McNeight, Mike Nesbitt MLA, Brian McKeown, Jill Campbell, and Andrew Jess